Data Engineer salary in Boston, MA
Based on 213 certified H-1B filings in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro area, FY2025–FY2026. Includes Waltham, Quincy, Cambridge, Burlington, Woburn.
Also listed as: Database Architect, Data Architect
Salary range
| Percentile | Salary |
|---|---|
| 10th | $117,686 |
| 25th | $131,690 |
| 50th (median) | $150,101 |
| 75th | $175,000 |
| 90th | $185,080 |
Salary by year
Median salary
Filings per year
Show as table
| Fiscal year | Median | P25 | P75 | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2020 | $100,000 | $74,389 | $120,000 | 47 |
| FY2021 | $115,000 | $90,314 | $130,000 | 51 |
| FY2022 | $120,100 | $97,415 | $150,000 | 71 |
| FY2023 | $140,000 | $121,467 | $164,091 | 72 |
| FY2024 | $138,478 | $125,250 | $159,256 | 86 |
| FY2025 | $150,000 | $131,685 | $172,914 | 128 |
| FY2026 | $151,840 | $140,130 | $184,500 | 85 |
Cost of living
Boston's median Data Engineer salary of $150,101 is worth about $138,600 at national average prices.
Source: BEA Regional Price Parities, 2024 (U.S. = 100; Boston = 108.3).
Compared with all workers here
All Database Architects in the Boston, MA area earned a median of $161,650 in May 2025 (2,120 employed). The H-1B median here is $150,101, 7% lower.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, OEWS metropolitan area estimates. BLS wages include some incentive pay; H-1B figures are base salary.
Top employers filing
| Employer | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Deloitte | $140,130 | 12 |
| IBM | too few | 9 |
| DK Crown Holdings | too few | 8 |
| Chewy | too few | 7 |
| Cognizant | too few | 5 |
| McKinsey & Company | too few | 5 |
| State Street Bank and Trust Company | too few | 5 |
| Amazon | too few | 4 |
| Bright Horizons Children's Centers | too few | 4 |
| Avco Consulting | too few | 3 |
Employers with at least 2 filings here. Median shown at 10+ filings.
By experience level
| Wage level | Median | Filings |
|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $117,686 | 27 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $140,130 | 68 |
| Senior · Level III | $169,243 | 52 |
| Expert · Level IV | $184,998 | 38 |
Median shown when a level has at least 10 filings.
Minimum H-1B salary by level
| Wage level | Prevailing wage (most common) | Median offered salary | Filings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry-level · Level I | $108,846 | $117,686 | 27 |
| Mid-level · Level II | $131,685 | $140,130 | 68 |
| Senior · Level III | $154,502 | $169,243 | 52 |
| Expert · Level IV | $184,995 | $184,998 | 38 |
The prevailing wage is the minimum an employer must pay for this job and area. Amounts vary by county within a metro and by wage source.